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(No Model.)

S. H. SHORT. TROLLEY 0R TRAVELER FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

Patented Apr. 21,1891.

gwoewtoz W m m k NTTT; STATES PATENT OFFI E.

SIDNEY H. SHORT, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE SHORT ELEC' RIO RAILlVAY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TROLLEY OR TRAVELER FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 450,683, dated April 21, 1891.

Application filed April 9, 1890. Serial No. 347,169. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SIDNEY ll. SHORT, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and 5 useful Improvements in Trolleys or Travelers for Electric Railways; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains I to make and use the same.

This invention relates more particularly to trolleys or travelers for making separate electrical contact with two overhead conductors connected with opposite poles of the dynamoelectric machine which supplies the electric ity for propelling the cars; but the several improvements constituting said invention are of course included for all the uses to which they may be applicable.

Heretofore trolleys or travelers have been made having contacts insulated from each other and arranged to travel along separate conductors.

The present invention comprises certain improvements in or additions to the trolleys or travelers having contacts insulated from each other. An intervening device is pro vided, which projects considerably beyond the contacts and is free at the outer edge, so that in applying the trolley or traveler to the conductors said projection first enters between the conductors and assists in guiding the contacts t0 the, conductors, while in use said projection tends to retain the said contacts in position and prevent them from leaving the conductors. This device and the contacts may be arranged in various ways and still be within the general principle of the invention; but the invention also comprises certain special arrangements and combinations, as here inafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, Figure l is a side view of collecting devices constructed in ac cordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is aprofile or edge View omitting the lower part of tr01ley-pole and means for connecting it with the car.

As shown, the trolley-pole A is fixed at its lower end in a cap 13, which rests on spiral springs O, confined between said cap B and a corresponding cap D, the latter being swiveled to the roof of the car, and the contacts E E are supported at the upper end of the trolleypole, being mounted on the arms F F, whose shanks fit upon the insulating-sleeve G and are secured to but insulated from the trolleypole. The contacts E E are in electrical connection with the motor on the car through the arms F F and the insulated conductors II ll, which pass through the interior of the trolley-pole.

The springs 0 form a flexible connection between the trolley-pole and the car and also uphold the pole, so that the contacts E E bear upward against the under side of the supplyconductors I I by spring-pressure. Other known or suitable arrangements for flexibly connecting the trolley-pole with the car and for pressing the contacts against the conductors may, however, be used. So, also, other arrangements could be used to mount the contacts E E, which may, moreover, themselves be of any suitable description so far as the more general features of the invention are concerned. It may also be observed that the mounting for the trolley-pole and contacts as shown is not in itself apart from the features hereinafter described and includedin the invention.

In connection with the contacts E E, insulated from each other, is the device K, which projects beyond the contacts and is free at the outer edge 1, so that it may be inserted between the supply-00nductors I I to guide the contacts E E to their proper position against the said conductors and to act as a guard in preventing their leaving the conductors laterally.

As shown, the device K is wedge-shaped, 9o narrow at the outer edge 1 and widening as it approaches the contacts E E. It is also preferably hollowed out slightly on the wedgefaces 2. Moreover, the free edge 1 of the de vice K is curved, as seen in side view, Fig. l. 5 This is of advantage in facilitating theinsertion, since there is no corner exposed to catch on the conductors. It is also of advantage to make the device in the form of a rotatory disk or wheel, so that it may turn when it comes into contact with the conductors, and thus avoid wear thereon. As shown, it is mounted on journal-pins 8, having their bearings in the arms F F. These journal-pins, which form the shaft or axle of the disk or wheel K, are, as shown, in one piece with the metal plates 4, which are fastened to the flat center portion of the disk or wheel K, so that said pins are in line with each other, and the disk or wheel K is of non-conducting material, so that the two journalsor two ends of the shaft are insulated from each other. The contacts E E are made in the form of rollers of conducting material mounted loosely one on each pin. They also bear against the sides of the arms F F, respectively, through which they are in electrical contact with the conductors H 1-1, respectively, the electrical connection with the said arms being partly through the direct side contact and partly through the two journal-pins. The electrical connection might of course be otherwise efiected. The edges or perimeters of the side plates 4 are inclined so as to form a continuation of the side of the roller-contacts E E. The journal-pins 3, instead of being in one piece with the plates 4:, could be fastened thereto in any convenient way, and might be provided with heads outside the arms F F in the form of nuts or of permanent heads if the pins be screwed into the plates at.

The arms F F are provided beyond the bearings for the journals 3 with outwardlybent ears 5, and the distance between the points of such ears and the free edge 1 of the device K is about equal to or less than the distance between the supply-conductors I I, so that each may form a guide or guard to prevent the wire getting outside of the contact on its side.

The wheelor disk K of non-conducting material is or maybe provided with a metal rim 6 to diminish wear. While it is preferred to make the device of non-conducting material, yet it is not essential that it should be so made, provided the construction and arrangement are such that the said device establishes no electrical connection between the contacts or other conducting part carrying the electricity to or from one of the supply-conductors I or 1' with any part carrying the electricity from or to the other of said supply-conductors.

The intervening device K has been shown in connection with the insulated contacts E E only in a trolley or traveler having a springpressed pole for the support; but it will be understood that the invention includes as well the use of the same in trolleys or travelers with other forms of spring-pressed supports or in trolleys or travelers for electrically-propelled vehicles in general.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A trolley or traveler for an electricallypropelled vehicle, comprising contacts insulated from each other for establishing connection of the vehicle with separate supply-conductors and provided with a device projectingbeyond said contacts and free at the outer edge and adapted to enter lJOtWGGllStLlLl supply-conductors for guiding the contacts to their operative position on the conductors and to act as a guard against lateral displacement of the same, substantially as described.

2. A trolley or traveler comprising a springpressed pole, contacts and conductors mounted on said pole and insulated from each other for establishing electrical connection with separate conductors, and an intervening device also mounted 011 said pole and projecting beyond the said contacts with its outer edge free, substantially as described.

8. A trolley ortraveler comprising contacts in the form of rollers insulated from each other and a device arranged between saidcontact -rollers and projecting beyond the edges of the same for entering between the supply-conductors, substantially as described.

4. In combination with contacts of a trolley or traveler insulated from each other, an intervening device in the form of a rotatory disk or wheel whose periphery projects beyond said contacts, substantially as described.

5. In combination with trolley or traveler contacts in the form of rollers insulated from each other, an interposed rotatory disk or wheel adapted to enter first between the supply-conductors in applying the trolley or traveler thereto, substantially as described.

6. In combination with supply-conductors, a trolley or traveler comprising contact-rollers insulated from each other, a conductive mounting in. electrical connection with said rollers with its parts insulated from each other, so that separate conductors may be led therefrom, and a rotatory disk between said rollers, the axle of said disk and rollers being supported in or on said mountings, substantially as described.

'7. The combination, with the grooved or guttered contacts of a trolley or traveler insulated from each other, of a wedge-shaped device projecting beyond said contacts with its outer edge free, its inclined faces forming a practical continuation of the adjacent surfaces of the said contacts, substantially as described.

S. The combination,witht-hespring-pressed trolley-pole and the grooved or guttered contacts carried thereby and insulated from each ther, of the wedge-shaped device projecting beyond said contacts with its free outer edge curved as seen in side view, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the grooved or guttered contacts, of the intervening projecting device in the form of a rotatory disk or wheel having the margin which projects beyond said contacts of a wedge-like form, substantially as described.

10. In an electric-railway trolley, the combination, with insulated contact-rollers for making contact with two separate conductors, of an insulated device arranged between the said rollers and projecting beyond the edges its adjacent arm and insulated from the other, and contact-rollers mounted one upon each end of the shaft between the arm and plate and in electric connection with the-same, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SIDNEY H. SHORT. \Vitnesses:

A. 13. CALHOUN, W. A. PALLAUT. 

